Dear President Trump, Victoria Bissell Brown. Dr. Victoria Bissell Brown, actually. Not a name you’ve probably ever heard before. Not a name I’d ever heard before yesterday, but I’m going to do my best to remember it. Dr. Brown is a retired history professor from Grinnell College and she wrote the mother of all op-eds … Continue reading An earnest listen now and again is not enough
Still getting snagged
Dear President Trump, The other day I saw a woman with blond ringlets riding on the back of a motorcycle a little ahead in the next lane over. When I glanced back, I saw I’d been mistaken and the woman I’d assumed was riding behind someone was actually riding alone. It was pretty disconcerting both … Continue reading Still getting snagged
At least with a nightmare one can wake up
Dear President Trump, It was pretty self-indulgent to take a break from the mayhem with yesterday’s letter about the reservoir across the street from us, but I’m weary and feeling even more disillusioned and sad than usual lately. From the conversations I’ve had with folks this week, it’s clear I’m not alone. No one appears … Continue reading At least with a nightmare one can wake up
Our reservoir is coming back online
Dear President Trump, When the water started coming into the empty reservoir across the street from us last Friday I thought maybe it was a little tiny consolation prize from the universe since all but one GOP Senator (plus one Democrat) signaled their intention to support Brett K’s nomination that day. I know it’s a … Continue reading Our reservoir is coming back online
Having it every which way
Dear President Trump, I’ve been thinking about the disclosure of Dr. Ford’s identity and trying to make sense of the timing of everything. A case could be made, and has been made vociferously, that Feinstein and the Democrats withheld the letter and Dr. Ford’s identity until after Brett’s formal hearings were over to make a … Continue reading Having it every which way
When you go low
Dear President Trump, Surely I’ve asked you this before, but how much of what you say do you actually believe? We know you tell multiple falsehoods a day, but it’s still not clear how much of what you say you’re saying to consciously manipulate your base and how much of what you say you’d tell … Continue reading When you go low
Pretty lovely
Dear President Trump, Today I saw and heard things that give me hope that we have the capacity to be ok, that we can come through this sad, infuriating, broken time of ours and be ok. This afternoon we went to the Total Experience Gospel Choir’s farewell concert honoring Pastor Patrinell Wright. It was in … Continue reading Pretty lovely
No question who’s on top of the heap
Dear President Trump, All my life I’ve had trouble with people’s names and when someone has a last name that is traditionally a first name, things get even worse for me. This is especially true when the person is male since most last names are male-based and thus boys or men can end up with … Continue reading No question who’s on top of the heap
Day 600 and in-spite-of-you-positives
Dear President Trump, Last night Laura remarked that I must be getting close to the 600 day mark in our one-sided correspondence so I checked and we were at 599, which means today is indeed the 600th consecutive day of writing to you. It seems like this should feel like an accomplishment of sorts, but … Continue reading Day 600 and in-spite-of-you-positives
Hell to pay
Dear President Trump, Yesterday our VA facility’s Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Coordinator emailed out a really nice self-care handout for us to share with veterans who are feeling stressed and triggered by what is going on in the national news. The handout was created at the national level to make sure that our veterans with … Continue reading Hell to pay